Mechanism of trail-laying in two species of termites

Abstract

DURING recent investigations on the behaviour of the primitive termite Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen), evidence for trail-laying was obtained when it was noted that nymphs accurately followed the path taken by one nymph over a clear unobstructed surface in an artificial nest, even when the direction of the light and the position of the nest were altered. This, to my knowledge, is the first mention of trail-laying in a lower termite. © 1961 Nature Publishing Group.